Scott Kormos Sheds Light on Calf Roping
Scott Kormos Sheds Light on Calf Roping
Scott Kormos shares his thoughts and advice on tie-down roping, training horses, and preparing for competitions in FloRodeo's Wednesday Wisdom series.
Scott Kormos has proved size is not an excuse when it comes to tie-down roping. He might only stand 5-foot-7, but Kormos has held his own and demonstrated he can rope with the best time and time again.
Known for his fast hands and smooth runs, Kormos was born and raised in the small town of Teague, Texas, where he still calls home with his wife, Laine, two sons (Kade and Lawson), and daughter (Letty). When Kormos isn't roping, he is normally spending time with his family or shoeing horses. You could also say roping runs in his family. His dad, Michael, was a team roper, and his younger sister, Kelli, is a breakaway roper.
Career Highlights:
FloRodeo: How do you know when a horse is ready to start taking to events, and what is the optimal events to enter when hauling a young horse?
Kormos: Most of the time when they start being consistent day in and day out and you start noticing they're just getting better every day, and you can ask them for more and it doesn't bother them. When I start taking one, I'll start at the smaller jackpots and then just go from there depending on how the horse is doing.
How do you keep a horse strong and working while on the road?
A good diet and exercise and keeping them out of the trailer as much as possible.
What are some fundamentals that are important for young ropers to master in order to ensure success?
Scoring and being able to finish on the ground.
Not all horses are the same, how do you adjust your roping to fit different horses? What is your ideal horse?
The only thing that I feel like most of the time that I have to adjust is how I score one -- seems like they all score different. As far as ideal horse, it would have to be Muenster. I rode that horse for a few years there, and he was the same every time.
For someone who is just starting their rodeo career or wanting to get into rodeo, what is the best advice you can offer them?
Practice, practice, and more practice. And find somebody that you believe in and have them help you.
How important is physical fitness in tie-down roping, and how do you stay physically fit?
It's very important nowadays. The guys just keep getting stronger and faster every year, and if you're going to compete, you better be in shape and ready when you show up somewhere. I try to lift weights two or three days a week and then get my cardio in running down the rope every day.
How important is your mental aspect in rodeo? How do you control your mental game?
I think it's the most important thing in rodeo. It's such a roller coaster ride, and you have to be able to stay in the middle and not get too high or low and focus on the future and not the past.
What is your favorite motivational quote or verse?
Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens me.
Any last information or tips you would like to include?
Don't be scared to go after your dreams.
Known for his fast hands and smooth runs, Kormos was born and raised in the small town of Teague, Texas, where he still calls home with his wife, Laine, two sons (Kade and Lawson), and daughter (Letty). When Kormos isn't roping, he is normally spending time with his family or shoeing horses. You could also say roping runs in his family. His dad, Michael, was a team roper, and his younger sister, Kelli, is a breakaway roper.
Career Highlights:
- PRCA career earnings: $1,102,834.00
- Eight-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier (2004, 2006-11, 2013)
- Tour Finale qualifications: 5
- Winter: 2002, 2006
- Summer: 2006
- Championship: 2006, 2013
- All American ProRodeo Finals titles: 2 (2010, 2014)
- RNCFR qualification: 2 (2010, 2013)
- 2013 Cheyenne Frontier Days champion
- 2012 Texas Circuit Finals champion
- Set the Pendleton, OR, Round-Up tie-down roping arena record (8.0 seconds) in 2012
FloRodeo: How do you know when a horse is ready to start taking to events, and what is the optimal events to enter when hauling a young horse?
Kormos: Most of the time when they start being consistent day in and day out and you start noticing they're just getting better every day, and you can ask them for more and it doesn't bother them. When I start taking one, I'll start at the smaller jackpots and then just go from there depending on how the horse is doing.
How do you keep a horse strong and working while on the road?
A good diet and exercise and keeping them out of the trailer as much as possible.
What are some fundamentals that are important for young ropers to master in order to ensure success?
Scoring and being able to finish on the ground.
Not all horses are the same, how do you adjust your roping to fit different horses? What is your ideal horse?
The only thing that I feel like most of the time that I have to adjust is how I score one -- seems like they all score different. As far as ideal horse, it would have to be Muenster. I rode that horse for a few years there, and he was the same every time.
For someone who is just starting their rodeo career or wanting to get into rodeo, what is the best advice you can offer them?
Practice, practice, and more practice. And find somebody that you believe in and have them help you.
How important is physical fitness in tie-down roping, and how do you stay physically fit?
It's very important nowadays. The guys just keep getting stronger and faster every year, and if you're going to compete, you better be in shape and ready when you show up somewhere. I try to lift weights two or three days a week and then get my cardio in running down the rope every day.
How important is your mental aspect in rodeo? How do you control your mental game?
I think it's the most important thing in rodeo. It's such a roller coaster ride, and you have to be able to stay in the middle and not get too high or low and focus on the future and not the past.
What is your favorite motivational quote or verse?
Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens me.
Any last information or tips you would like to include?
Don't be scared to go after your dreams.